Communalism india pdf

The rise and growth of communalism during the latter part of the 19th century continued to shape the course of Indian history during the freedom struggle. The great communal divide gradually began to harden the attitudes of the two predominant communities of India - Hindus and Muslims. The religion based communalism led to the establishment of communal organizations to streamline the aspirations of the respective communities.

The religio-cultural organizations of both the Muslims and the Hindus gave way to the establishment of political organizations such as the Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha. The intense communalization of the Muslim society finally led to the partition of India and creation of Pakistan. The first element is the belief that people who follow the same religion have common political, economic, social and cultural interests, which has been the basic foundation of communal ideology.

The second element is the secular interest of the followers of a religion, which is dissimilar from the interest of the followers of another religion. The third element is that the interest of the followers of different religion is mutually incompatible and antagonistic. It is, therefore, said that the Hindus and the Muslims cannot have common secular interest, which means they are bound to be against of each other.

This is the basis of the communal politics. The Muslim communalism led to the partition of the country while the Hindu communalism converted into Hindu nationalism.

Communalism in India was, therefore, a struggle for jobs between various communities, unequal educationally, politically and economically. Historian K. It was therefore a product of imperialist-capitalist-feudal structure of India. The British policy holds a very special responsibility for favouring the growth of communalism. The British policy of 'divide and rule' could succeed only because something in the internal social, economic, cultural and political conditions of society favoured its success.

Communalism grew and prospered not only because it served the political needs of the British rule but also because it met the social needs of some sections of the Indian society. The history of the British policy toward communalism can be easily traced to the period just after the rebellion of The post period made it imperative for the rulers to adopt a new set of policies in order to combat the possible threat to their empire.

The British policy, therefore, underwent significant changes after and acquired a dual character. It consisted of a combination of liberal and imperialist policies. The revivalistic tendencies in the 19th century acted as a contributory factor in the growth of communalism. Revivalism was a very general phenomenon under imperialism the world over. It meant an attempt at restoration of self- respect which had been deeply injured by political subjection.

This self- respect was sought to be restored by glorifying India's past, which was projected as a compensation for India's existing humiliation. Related to the question of revivalism was the emergence of certain political trends in the late 19th century among a section of the Muslims in India. The views and political activities of Syed Ahmed Khan were always marked with certain ambivalence. He started his activities without any communal bias. His main aim was to introduce reforms among the Muslims, impress upon them the necessity of modem education and secure official patronage for them.

For this purpose, he founded the Aligarh College which received financial support from many Hindus and had many Hindu students and teachers. He himself preached harmony between Hindus and Muslims. However, his politics changed after the formation of the Congress in He found his priority of securing administrative posts for Muslims and of professing loyalty to the British rule, to be in absolute contradiction with the anti-imperialist edge of the Congress.

Although his main opposition with Congress was on the attitude towards the British government, he voiced his disapproval in terms of the Congress being a Hindu body, and therefore opposed to the Muslims. Thus, he laid down the foundation of certain basic themes of communalism. One such theme was that being a majority. Hindus would dominate the Muslims and override their interests, if the British rule ended and the power was transferred to Indians.

It was on these grounds that Syed Ahmed Khan was opposed to the establishment of representative democratic institutions. He also felt that any system of elections would put power into the hands of Hindus. Due to its geopolitical condition, all most all major powers, rulers, as well empire of different era, they wanted to enter in this country.

Everyone has had the different motto. Some came here to accumulated wealth, while some came here to expand their empire. Some had the motto to plunder the great wealth from ndia. For these kinds of purpose, they had started every obsession to meet their end.

There was long historical background of this country. Let us see one by one in brief. Role of British Empire British came in ndia as traders, but soon they had become the masters of all things. Before, British came in ndia. Most of the feudal lords were settled in ndia. All they were living in peace. They had assessed one thing here, that the role of religion was quite dominated.

They thought, it was a better option to divide the people on the basis of religion. Earlier they could not divide the people; there was great stability in ndia. But when the fight for freedom started against them, they grew apprehensive to restore the stability of their empire in ndia.

For this sake, they adopted every means to furtherance their interest in ndia. The matter remained very silent up to. By getting, the indus Muslims unity in the First War of ndependence ndia. They had been worried about their immovability in ndia. They had moved the policy of divide and Role. They had started every means to divide the people of ndia, some encouraging every community on the basis of religions, some time on the basis of castes.

They encourage peoples for their representation, their separate identities. Nature of Freedom struggle in India When, the British had entered in ndia.

They settled their chain of communication. So when the situation came arrived and they started to neglect the ndian culture and tradition in every walk of life. The revolution of took place. When the revolution came to an end, British anged , Muslims in Delhi. From there onward the Muslims were targeted. British first tried to help the Muslims, in order to gain their support. They had urged landlord newly young educates for the fostering the separation of the ndian society.

They started dividing people on the basis of castes. They motivated Brahmin against Non Brahmin. They allowed some writers for spreading communal ideologies through their news papers, literature and posters, so this was pointed division of ndian society on the basis of religions. Role of social reformer and their prevailing attitude toward communalism in India. They were very worrying about the culture and tradition of their communities.

Some social reformers belong to minority community in ndia. They were also worrying about their isolated culture and tradition. The leaders of each community tried to promote the culture of their own communities.

Later his attitude also changed, and he went toward in favoritism of his own community, and also laid the foundation of Muslim communalism in ndia. Some other leaders also felt that the culture of their community were distinct and superior. There were various rudiments of and fundamentalism conservatism started grew in ndia. Such a type of always compelled them to adopt the sense of secularism.

That is why they could never adopt the religious tolerance in ndia. Temperament of partition of India The freedom movement took along side with a major disaster that is of partition of ndia, on August , into two major parts one side it represented as ndia and other side it indicated as Pakistan.

There were diversities in ndia, its composite culture and tradition remained unsaved. On the August there was bloody partition took place, on the same night communl riots erupted and near about some , , people got killed and many more injured. Near about. For six weeks the violence remained continued across the whole north ndia.

There were lot of murders rapes and also property lost. So this bloody partition left both the communities indus and Muslims ever panic. Politics of Hindutva and ideologies.

After partition it was thought that problem of communalism would soon end. But nothing like that happened. The Muslim who remained in ndia after partition, they were again had a desire for further partition of the country.

After partition up to there were usual causes of communal feeling in the country as it was earlier happening. But the situation changed quietly after when there was khalistan movement took place in Punjab.

From the mid s there was new waves of politics started, a new kind of indu nationalism appears in ndian civic life. Most of the indu revivalist had made a propaganda that Muslims were in minority in ndia but always threatened the indu majority. This paid the ways for great destruction of Babri mosque in. After that the feeling of communalism culminated more and more. This could be turned out again in the shape of Gujarat riots in.

Constitutional hypocrisy n ndian constitution part third clearly represent some fundamental rights for the citizens of ndia. The natures of these rights are very hard it cannot change or abridge away.

Some fundamental rights also provided to minority community. But some time these rights are being used in extraordinary sense, by the personal law with help of community concerned.

This has already been seen in shah Bano controversy in. So these rights also become the base of prejudice between the minority and majority community. Some time the interest of minority community goes against the interest of majority community.

Due to absence of uniform civil code, every community represents different and divergent interest. Socio- economic inequity and class conflicts The internal stress and strain between majority community and minority community for the purpose of socio economic necessity of life also promoted communal hatred at the mass level. There are various scholars presented the idea that communalism is raised in ndia is due to the product of class conflicts.

Some time upper classes tried to dominate lowers classes; it also created the feeling of hatred, bigotry and fanaticism. Generally the need of every community is different from the needs of other community.

Some their interest collides this lead to communal riots. Muslims in ndia is often represented the claim after partition of the country that they were continued exploited and deprived by indus majority. Political competitions ndia is a largest democracy country in the world where the political competition between the political leaders common there.

Every leader for the purpose of gaining political powers asserted many ideologies, repeated the past of other communities, raised many slogans also generated the feeling of communalism in ndia. Some time the reaction of all these communal feeling turned out in the shape of communal riots.

Role of Media in spreading communalism in India Quite often it has been seen that the media instead of following scientific knowledge it continued to followed communal horror in the country.